From the desk of the Tar Heel disciple:
February 12, 2026 (#74)
Our Lady of Lourdes-Part II
As noted in our first posting on the theme of Our Lady of Lourdes, the “World Day of the Sick” was instituted by Pope St. John Paul II on May 13, 1992. Since then, it has been observed on the feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes, February 11, and in each year since, the reigning pope has also issued a “message” in recognition of the commemoration. It was the stated intention of John Paul II to establish on that day “a special time of prayers and sharing, of offering one’s suffering for the good of the Church and are reminding us to see in our sick brothers and sisters the face of Christ who, by suffering, dying, and rising, achieved the salvation of humankind.”
Even before the institution of this annual commemoration, the same pope had written extensively on the Christian meaning of human suffering in an apostolic letter, entitled, Salvifici doloris, issued on the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, February 11, 1984.
It is worthy of reading, meditation, and prayer, and can be found at:
This document might provide excellent spiritual reading for the faithful not only for the Marian feast itself (February 11), but perhaps also for the upcoming season of Lent.
Pope Leo XIV has recently continued the tradition by publishing the 34th annual message for the World Day of the Sick. The complete message, issued on January 13, 2026, is available in English on the Vatican website:
This document from the newly elected American pope invites an extended meditation on the figure of the Good Samaritan, as given in the Gospel of Saint Luke (cf. Lk 10:25-37).
Pope St. John Paul II made three pilgrimages, as pope, to Lourdes, and Pope Benedict XVI made one. The Lourdes Medical Bureau was established at the urging of Pope St. Pius X, to ensure a professional examination of claims of miraculous cures there. Up until this time, approximately 7,500 claims of such cures by pilgrims to the shrine have been made, of which 72 have been declared scientifically inexplicable by the bureau. Of course, for numerous pilgrims who have not received the gift of physical healing, spiritual healings of various kinds and the gift of acceptance of God’s will have been frequently reported.
Books for adults and for children, as well as numerous devotional items related to Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Bernadette can be found at:
https://inhisname.com/search?options%5Bprefix%5D=last&q=lourdes
